Today’s outfit is (I like to think) a good way of working the military trend without the harsh silhouettes which are sometimes hard to pull off, especially for the day time. I was pretty excited to see this cardigan in Primark for £14 after lusting over the almost identical Topshop version which is £34 more expensive! I’m also wearing my amaaazing new Agyness Deyn x Dr Martens 1490 boots. Check out more images and info about my Primark ‘mini haul’ below.
I will always have a soft spot for Primark and their extremely reasonably priced garments. Year after year I have been saying that they have been continually stepping up their game to content with high-street giants such as Topshop, H&M, River Island etc., and this autumn/winter is no exception. Look Magazine uploaded 75 of their Primark AW12 picks (you can see the full list here), and below I’ve selected a few of my favourites and some pieces which I will 100% be adding to my winter wardrobe. Primark is not available online, however you can purchase these pieces in store now or in the coming weeks.
After being impressed by Primark lipstick and nail varnish, I decided to try out their £1 ‘Volume Boost Mascara’ when I ran out of my go-to Max Factor False Lash Effect. Overall I am impressed! The packaging is simple, however for the price unimpressive packaging not an issue for me. The brush (pictured below) is not for those who prefer a really thick, fat brush, however it is easy to be accurate with and separates your lashes reasonably well.
Below is a photo of my eyelashes with three layers of Primark Volume Boost mascara on them. It is a true black shade and builds nicely. Although it isn’t my favourite mascara ever, it really is worth picking up for just £1! I personally will be using it in combination with a more expensive mascara such as Max Factor False Lash Effect or L’Oreal Volume Million Lashes so that they last longer, however as a back up it is perfect on it’s own!
The other day I found this amazing skirt in Primark which was on sale (!) for £5! I couldn’t resist getting it, it makes an amazing focal point of any casual or dressy outfit. Today I’m visiting family, I’m wearing the skirt with a simple black sleeveless jersey button-up from Topshop and new ankle boots from Primark (which look almost exactly like the Topshop Mighty boots but less than half the price at £18).
Half my outfit today is from Primark, would you guess it if you didn’t know? I love and hate Primark, the trick to shopping in there is definitely to choose pieces that you could see in a shop like Topshop or River Island – if it looks like it’s from Primark then stay away!
Although this ‘electric yellow’ jumper, courtesy of Glamorous UK, is not for those who want a subtle way to incorporate the neon trend in their outfits, I think it is the perfect statement piece for the trend and is ideal for those all too frequent spring and summer days where the sun doesn’t shine in England!
Click here to view and purchase the jumper at Glamorous UK, a bargain at only £17.99, but please be warned that it is much brighter in person than it appears on the photo on the website!
Here I’ve paired the jumper with a vintage black velvet shirt underneath so that the collar is visible, navy blue American Apparel disco pants as an alternative to an all black look, Liberty print Nike Air Max 1 trainers from their recent collaborative collection, an Alexander McQueen-esque skull print scarf from Primark and my trusty Topshop black leather biker to tie the look together.
I also tried this look with a less casual shoe: a nude and neon lace-up flat from H&M, which combination do you prefer?
Although as a whole this collection doesn’t completely blow me away, I’m pretty impressed with some of the pieces Primark have come up with for Summer! Amongst the now over-hyped and over-done aztec leggings and occasional uninspiring print, Primark’s Summer offering includes some real gems.
They have hit the neon-nail on the head with the pink and yellow bralets (£5 each) which will look amazing and bang on trend if styled right (think black or nude chiffon skirts or high waisted denim Levis), and the neon platform heels at a bargain £12 will make the perfect statement for an evening out. If neons aren’t your thing, I’m also very fond of the gorgeous nude, orange and leopard print platform heels, and the collection also includes some very pretty midi dresses, amazing tortoise shell sunglasses, intense statement jewellery and an adorable Rockabilly-esque cars print bodycon dress, and with the recession friendly prices taken into account, Primark’s Summer collection is not one to sleep on!
Check out some images of my favourite pieces below, and view the full collection at Look, what are your thoughts?
Pastel colours are always perfect for spring and summer, and this year I’ve become particularly obsessed with them! Here I’ve gone a little overboard with colour-blocking pastels, using a neutral grey blazer to tone down the outfit and make it more wearable.
Over the past few days I’ve had a huge shop, scouring what’s left of the January sales in some shops and new arrivals for spring in others for bargains and to spend my Topshop vouchers left over from Christmas. Here’s what I bought:
I’m really impressed with the Primark Spring 2012 range (click here to see it in full on the Look magazine website) and today I picked up this black and white polka dot sheer blouse for just £10. Apart from a few pretty dresses, cute accessories and this striking ‘burnt orange’ blazer, the blouses are the strongest pieces in the collection in my opinion. I’ve also got my eye on this floral blouse with black sleeves and this white blouse with pink accents.
I wasn’t overwhelmed by the Topshop sale this winter, however I did pick up this cute knitted jumper for £15 which will look great over any button-up blouse, especially on a cold but sunny spring day.